T.E. LAWRENCE NEED NOT APPLY

Gays should not serve in Britain's military, says that country's High Court. In upholding the current ban, the court agreed with the view of the Ministry of Defense that changing the policy was a matter for Parliament, not the courts. But it's doubtful the legislature would reverse the ban, saysTIME London bureau chief Barry Hillenbrand. Britain's Conservative government supports the ban, saying it is necessary to maintain order and discipline in the ranks. More importantly for elected officials, Hillenbrand notes, is that there's not a large gay constituency in Britain. "The issue is nowhere near as politicized as in the U.S., and there's no real political capital in pushing to end the ban."